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FUNERAL ELEGIES. 


A Paper Presented at a Meeting of the Massachusetts 
Historical Society, December 14 , 1893 . 


SAMUEL 


BY 

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A. GREEN. 







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FUNERAL ELEGIES. 


At a meeting of the Massachusetts Historical 
Society, held in Boston, on Thursday, December 14, 
1893, Dr. Samuel A. Green spoke as follows: — 

The poetic impulse in the human breast finds expression 
in different ways at different periods of time. Two centu¬ 
ries ago, writers of poetical compositions in memory of the 
dead were more common in New England than they are 
to-day. They gave utterance to their feelings in a form of 
verse known as the Elegy. Such productions were often 
printed as broadsides, and circulated among the friends of 
the family. They were generally crude in their metrical con¬ 
struction, but they afforded a certain kind of sad satisfaction 
to the mourners. Sometimes manuscript copies were made 
from the printed sheet, and these, too, were sent around to 
the friends of the departed. 

In the Historical Library is a copy of two Elegies composed 
by Benjamin Tompson, and written on the same sheet of 
paper, but not in his handwriting, which was given to the 
Society, by Mr. Winthrop, on April 6, 1864. One of these 
Elegies is entitled “ A Neighbours Tears dropt on y® grave 
of an Amiable Virgin a pleasant plant cut downe in the 
blooming of her Spring Viz m” Rebecka Sewal. Anno 
^Etatis 6. w?. August y® 4 fc . h 1710.” and is signed “ Ben: 
Thompson.” ; and the other is entitled “ A Clowde of Tears, 
sprinkled on the Dust of the Amiable Virgin m” Rebecka 
Sewel who Suddenly died August. 3 1710. iEtatis suse.” and 
is signed “ B: T:”. The manuscript copy is evidently con- 



4 


temporaneous with the event, and the two Elegies are quite 
distinct. The correct date of death, according to Sewall’s 
Diary, is August 3. There is no reason to think that the first 
one was ever printed ; but the other certainly was, as the 
Library owns a specimen. The printed heading is as follows : 

“ A Neighbour’s TEARS I Sprinkled on the Dust of 
the Amiable Virgin, | Mrs. ^RcllClttth I Who was born 

^December 30. 1704. and dyed | suddenly, JUpst 3. 1710. 
iEtatis 6.” 

Rebekah Sewall was the eldest daughter of Samuel Sewall, 
Jr., and a granddaughter of the Chief Justice. In early 
times it was the custom to address ladies of high position as 
Mistress or Mrs., whether married or not; but this is the only 
instance where I have found a little girl six years old so 
styled. This Elegy is not given in the list of Tompson’s 
writings, as found in Mr. Sibley’s Harvard Graduates. 

The following is a copy of the first Elegy here mentioned, 
which is supposed not to have been printed: — 

A Neighbours Tears dropt on y® grave of an 
Amiable Virgin a pleasant plant cut downe in 
the blooming of her Spring Viz m rs Rebecka Sewal. 

Anno iEtatis 6. August y? 4* 1710. 

O heighth ! o Depths! upon my bended knees 
Who dare Expound these Wondrous Mysteries : 

That this rare plant is cropt before mine Eyes 
(Meer Shadow) left to write her Elegies. 

Pray what brave Artist here can Understand 
What one intends y* takes a pen in hand ? 

Twas Mother day a place I visited 

Where stands a palme, one limb whereof is dead. 

A bow’r w c . h many years Thousands have shaded 
By whome one Church was built: and Willard aided 
Seeking y? plat of Immortality 
I saw no place secure but some must die 
Treading that way their Ancient fathers did 
Whose faces are, but Vertues can’t be hid. 

I saw this pretty Lamb, but t’other day, 

With a small flock of Doves, Just in my Way. 

What New made Creature’s this so bright thought I 
Ah ! pitty tis Such prettiness should die 


5 


With rare alliances on Every side 

Had old physitians liv’d She ne’re had died. 

Must then the Rulers of this Worlds Affairs 
By Providence be brought to us in tears 
Lord keep their Eyes from such smart Judgments free 
Such mournfull Sights are more becoming mee. 

Pleasant Rebecka, heres to thee a Tear 
Hugg my sweet Mary if you chance to see her 
Had you giv’n warning ere you pleasd to Die, 

You might have had a neater Elegy. 

Ben: Thompson. 

[Indorsed] “ 1710 mr Thompson’s Verses on mf Sewals Childe.” 


The allusion of the writer to his own little girl (Mary), in 
the closing lines of the Elegy, is quite pathetic. She died on 
March 28, 1700, at the age of seven years. 

Another instance of a Funeral Elegy that was printed, and 
also circulated in manuscript, is one on John Foster, a gradu¬ 
ate of Harvard College in the Class of 1667, who died on 
September 9, 1681, written by Joseph Capen, a graduate of 
Harvard, Class of 1677. Still another instance is a second 
one on Foster, written by Thomas Tilestone. From an adver¬ 
tisement in an old almanac I assume that both these Elegies 
were printed. It is as follows : — 

Advertisement . 


T Hz re are suitable Verses Dedicated to the 
Memory of the INGENIOUS Mathema¬ 
tician and Printer Mr John Foster . Price 2d. a sin¬ 
gle Paper, both together 3c?. 

The Psalter also which Children so much wanted, 
is in part printed ; and will shortly be finished: both 
to be sold by John Usher of Boston. 


The title of the almanac is as follows: “ An Ephemeris 
of Coelestial Motions, Aspects, Eclipses, &c. For the Year of 

the Christian iEra 1682.By W. Brattle Philomath. 

Cambridge Printed by Samuel Green 1682.” ; and the ad¬ 
vertisement appears by itself on the last page of the pamphlet. 
It is evident that the “Verses” here advertised were two 
distinct “ Papers,” or sheets, as they were sold either sepa¬ 
rately or both together. 




G 


A copy of this almanac, bound up with others now in the 
possession of the Historical Society, once belonged to Chief- 
Justice Sewall; and on the blank space under the advertise¬ 
ment is written, 14 The last half Sheet was Printed w th my 
Letters [or type], at Boston. S. S.” At that time Judge 
Sewall had the official management of the printing-press in 
Boston, regularly licensed by the General Court, and no one 
else was allowed to interfere with him without a “like lib¬ 
erty first granted.” As he was not brought up to the trade, 
Samuel Green, Jr. (a practical printer), had charge of the 
business. The last four leaves of the almanac, or half signa¬ 
ture, are in different type, which explains this reference. 
Under a misapprehension of the facts, the Committee of 
Publication for Sewall’s Diary have referred this manuscript 
entry, as printed by them in the first volume (page 50) of the 
Diary, to the almanac which immediately follows in the small 
volume. 

Mr. Sibley, in his Harvard Graduates, refers to these two 
Elegies on Foster, and makes several quotations therefrom. 
He had found them in Thomas C. Simonds’s “ History of 
South Boston ” (pages 34-39), published in the year 1857, 
where they both appear in full. The author of that work 
says that he received them from certain members of the 
family. A few months ago I borrowed of Mr. Thompson 
Baxter, of South Boston, these same copies of the Elegies, 
which were without doubt contemporary with the printed 
ones. His grandmother was a Foster, though not a descend¬ 
ant of the printer, as he was unmarried, but she descended in 
a collateral line. It is interesting to note that certain words 
in the two manuscripts are written in large capitals, show¬ 
ing probably that the copyist followed a printed sheet. It 
has been thought that the closing lines of Capen’s Elegy 
suggested to Franklin the quaint epitaph which he wrote 
for himself. As a bright boy with an inquisitive turn of 
mind, Franklin was familiar with the main incidents in the 
life of Foster, the first printer in Boston, and probably the 
earliest engraver in New England. The verses differ in 
some minor respects from those in the “ History of South 
Boston,” and for that reason the Elegies are here reprinted, 
as follows : — 


7 


A Funeral Elegy 

Upon the much to be Lamented Death and most 
Deplorable Expiration of the Pious, Learned, Ingenious, 
and Eminently Usefull Servant of God 
M r John Foster 

Who Expired and Breathed out his Soul quietly 
into the Arms of His Blessed REDEEMER 
at Dorchester, Sept. 9th Anno Dorn. 1681 
^Etatis Anno 33 

Here lye the relict Fragments, which were took 
Out of Consumtion’s teeth, by Death the Cook 
Voracious Apetite dost thus devour 
Scarce ought hast left for worms t’ live on an Hour 
But Skin & Bones no bones thou mak’st of that 
It is thy common trade t’ eat all the fat. 

Here lyes that earthly House, where once did dwell 
That Soul that Scarce [ha]th left its Parallel 
For Sollid Judgment Piety & Parts 
And peerless Skill in all the practick Arts 
Which as the glittering Spheres, it passed by 
Methinks, I Saw it Glance at Mercury; 

Ascended now : ’bov Time & Tides’t abides, 

Which Sometimes told the world, of Times & Tides. 
Next to th’ Third Heavens the Stars were his delight, 
Where’s Contemplation dwelt both day & night, 

Soaring unceartainly but now at Shoar, 

Whether Sol moves or Stands He doubts no more. 

He that despis’d the things the world admired, 

As having Skill in rarer things acquired, 

The heav’ns Interpreter doth disappear; 

The Starre’s translated to his proper Sphere. 

What e’re the world may think did Cause his death 
Consumption ’twas not Cupid, Stopt his breath. 

The Heav’ns which God’s glory doe discover, 

Have lost their constant Friend & instant Lover 
Like Atlas, he help’t bear up that rare Art 
Astronomy ; & always took his part: 

Most happy Soul who didst not there Sit down 
But didst make after an eternal Crown 
Sage Archimede ! Second Bezaleell 
Oh how didst thou in Curious works excell! 

Thine Art & Skill deserve to See the Press, 

And be Composed in a Printers dress. 


8 


Thy Name is worthy for to be enroll’d 
In Printed Letters of the choicest Gold 

Thy Death to five foretold Eclipses Sad, 

A great one, unforetold doth Superad, 

Successive to that Strange ^Ethereal Blaze, 

Whereon thou didst so oft astonish’d, gaze; 

Which daily gives the world Such fatal blows : 

Still whats to come we dread ; God only knows. 

Thy Body which no activeness did lack 
Now’s laid aside like an old Almanack 
But for the present only’s out of date; 

Twil have at length a far more active State. 

Yea, though with dust thy body Soiled be, 

Yet at the Resurrection we Shall See 
A fair Edition & of matchless worth, 

Free from Errata, new in Heav’n Set forth : 

Tis but a word from God the great Creatour, 

It Shall be Done when he Saith IMPRIMATUR. 

Semoestus cecinit 

Joseph Capen 

M rs Foster I am very Happy to have it in my Power 
to Send you this Coppy I have long intended it but 
but want of leisure is the Cause, that this may 
meet you & Children in Health is the Wish of 

A Shores 

This note to Mrs. Foster, signed by A. Shores, was written 
by the person who copied the two Elegies. I am inclined to 
think that it is in a woman’s hand, but of this I am not sure ; 
nor am I able to identify the family of the copyist. Mrs. 
Foster, here alluded to, was the mother of the printer, as he 
was never married. 

Funeral Elegy 

Dedicated to the Memory of His Worthy Friend 
The Learned & Religious 

M r John Foster who Deceased in Dorchester the 9 of Sep br 1681 

Amongst the Mourners that are met 
(For Payment of their last love debt 
Unto the dead) to Solemnize, 

With Sighs and Tears his Obsequies, 

Loves Laws command that I appear 
And drop a kindly friendly Tear 


9 


I ’ll venture to bewail his Herse 
Though in a homely Country verse 
To omit the Same, it were 
A Crime at least Piacular 

Our woful loss for to Set forth, 

By Setting forth the matchless worth 
Of the Deceased is too high 
For my poor Rural Poetry 
And greater Skill it doth require 
Then whereunto I may aspire 

Records declare how he excelFd 
In Parentage unparallell’d 
Whose Grace and Virtues very great 
He did himself Impropriate 
Unto Himself ; improv’d withall 
By Learning Academical 

His Curious works had you but Seen 
You would have thought Him to have been 
By Some Strange Metempsychosis 
A new reviv’d Archmedes; 

At least you would have judg’d that he 
A rare Apelles would Soon be. 

Adde to these things I have been hinting 
His Skill in that rare Art of PRINTING : 
His accurate Geography, 

And Astronomick Poetry ; 

And you will Say, ’twere pitty He 
Should dy without an Elegie 

His piercing Astronomick EYE 
Could penetrate the Cloudy Sky, 

And Soar aloft, ith’ highest Sphere 
Descrying Stars that disappear 
To Common eyes: But Faith and Hope 
His all-excelling Telescope, 

Did help his heaven-born Soul to pry 
Beyond the Starry Cannopy. 

His excellencies here, we find 
Were crowned with an humble mind 

Thus (Grace obtein’d and Art acquir’d 
And thirty three years near expir’d) 

He that here liv’d belov’d, contented 
Now dies bewail’d and much lamented. 

Who know the Skill, which to our losse 
This Grave doth now alone ingrosse, 








10 


Ah who can tell JOHN FOSTER’S worth 
Whose Anagram is, I SHONE FORTH 
Presaged was his Apoge, 

By a preceding Prodigie 

Heav’ns blazing Sword was brandished 

By Heav’ns inraged wrath we dread ; 

Which Struck us with amazing fear 
Some fixed Star would disappear : 

Th’ appearance was not long adjour’iid 
Before our Fear to Sorrow turn’d. 

Oh Fatal Star (whose fearful flame 
A fiery Chariot became 
Whereby our Phenix did ascend) 

Thou art our Foe, although his Friend 
That rare Society, which forth 
Hath Sent Such Gems of greatest worth 
It’s OAKS and pleasant Plants by death 
Being pluct up, it languisheth : 

Thus dye our hopes, and Harvards glory 
Scarce parallel’d in any Story 

That GOD does thus our choice ones Slay 
And cunning Artist take away 
The Sacred Oracles do Shew 
A dreadfull flood of wrath in vieu 
Oh then let every one of you 
His rare accomplishments that knew 
Now Weep : weep ye of Harvard Hall 
With bitterest Tears ; so weep we all 
Chiefly such as were alone 
Flesh of his flesh, Bone of his Bone 
Lament indeed and fill the Sky[es] 

With th’ eccho’s of their dolefull cries 
Let James, and let Elisha too 
With Comfort, Standfast weeping, go 
Thankfull, Patience, Mary likewise 
Like loveing Sisters Solemnize 
With Sigh’s your greatest losse but yet 
Your Thankfull Hope do not forget 
With perseverance to fulfill 
Know your Elijah’s GOD lives Still 
Standfast therefore with Patience 
Comfort Shall be your recompence 

And as you yet Survive your Brother 
So be like comforts to your Mother 


11 


Who like Naomi Sad is left 

Of Husband, and two Sons breft 

So bitterly th’ Almighty one 

Hath to our weeping Marah done 

Grieve not too much the time draws near 

You’ll re-enjoy Relations dear 

And all together Shall on high 

With everlasting Melody 

And perfect peace His praises Sing 

Who through all troubles did you bring 

Thomas Tileston 

[Indorsed] “ Elegies on the death of M r John Foster 1681.” 

In the last Elegy, near the end, the allusions to Janies, 
Elisha. Comfort, Standfast, Thankfull, Patience, and Mary, 
are to the surviving brothers and sisters of Foster, and to 
a brother Hopestill, who had previously died. See the Pro¬ 
ceedings, 2d series, IV., 203; VI., 41, for other particulars 
concerning the printer. 


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